THE PRIME MINISTER.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13546, 6 October 1909, Page 7

THE PRIME MINISTER.

(from a correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, October 5

At a social to Sir Joseph Ward, given last night by the Women's Social and Political League, the Premier referred to the demonstration which took place outside Parliament prior to the closiii" of tho last short session, feir Joleph said that it was wonderful, lookup back upon tho march on Parliament, suggested by a gentleman, usually courteous, but who seemed on that occasion to have lost his head, to think with what equanimity ho and his colleagues regarded that extraordinary, altogether regrettable, and altogether to be ashamed of event. We were a progressive people, and the Government party being on the side of progress, always found reactionaries making excuses of various kinds. When they could not find cause, and their caao was weak, then they indulged in the familiar method of abusing tho other side. The Government would submit to Parliament in the course of a few days some important legislation on the side of progress, and would with the assistance of its party, irrespective of abuse and unkind innuendo, put upon record that which was in the interests of the country as a whole. If they had to touch interests which did not like it, then so long as the Government did their duty to the people, they could be indifferent to any offence. Criticism was not to be feared by a Government which did not caro so long as it was equitable, and just, but it was indifferent to that criticism which was prompted by venomous spite. When one found "booh emanating from the upper structure of an individual, because there was not a sufficiency of anything else to tako its place, it could be regarded as one of those little incidents which, while they ■were to be regretted, did no harm to tho person at which they were aimed. Sensible peoplo in tho community had no time*for anything intended rs a substitute for agreement or reasoning. He had never known anything in politics to be got by a wild-oyed empty expression of "boohing."